Family remains uncovered during excavation in Eastern Ghouta
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Human remains believed to belong to a woman and her children were discovered on Monday inside the basement of Khawla bint al-Azwar School in the city of Douma in Damascus countryside, during excavation works carried out by the humanitarian organization Wifaq Foundation.
The Syrian state-run al-Ikhbariya TV reported that excavation operations at the site were suspended after the discovery, while warning signs were placed around the area pending the completion of official procedures and the determination of how to handle the remains.
According to preliminary information, the victims are believed to have died during the intense bombardment campaign that targeted cities and towns in Eastern Ghouta in 2018.
Local reports indicated that the family had likely sought shelter inside the school basement while attempting to escape airstrikes and heavy shelling that struck the area during the final stages of military operations in Eastern Ghouta.
Douma, located northeast of Damascus, was among the last opposition-held areas in Eastern Ghouta before Syrian government forces regained control of the region in April 2018 following months of military escalation and bombardment.